D-DAY LANDING CRAFT

"D-DAY LANDING CRAFT"
 by Andrew Whitmarsh


The approaching 80th anniversary of D-Day inevitably brings a plethora of new & reprinted books. This brand new book is
written by the curator of the 'D-Day Story' in Portsmouth & is published by The History Press.

When it comes to landing craft, if you're like me & don't know your LCT's from your LCM's then have no fear. Here the first chapter takes a comprehensive look at the different types, what their roles were & includes some excellent drawings to aid the reader's learning. 

We then move on to the issues of construction & overcoming the shortage of all craft needed for the many different theatres of the war. Also at this time the mounting losses in the 'Battle of the Atlantic' currently meant that priority was given to building Escort Warships.

Shortages in the number of craft available was also an issue when it came to training. Finding enough men to crew them was one thing, having something to train with, was quite another. 
As we approach D-Day, this book once again reminds us just what an incredible amount of planning was undertaken to get everyone & everything in the right place. Simply astounding!

We then arrive at the morning of the 6th June. Here seperate chapters for each beach provides a very comprehensive account of the landings. What the crafts & their crews faced often makes for compelling reading. The reader gets a real sense of the chaotic & terrifying moments of the beach landings. How the slightest difference in timing & direction could effect so much.
Most will already know stories of the bravery & bloodshed. Quite rightly we are once again reminded of this 80 years later.

One lighter story stuck with me. 
After a landing craft is hit by a shell, the problem of the hole left is solved by the quick thinking of one Able Seaman. He decides to sit in said hole, becoming what can only be described as a 'human cork' & his actions allowed the craft to get away & saved it from sinking! 

It is worth pointing out that what happens next for those troops & tanks heading up the beaches is for other books. This book concentrates on the landing crafts & their crews, who certainly deserve their stories to be shared. 

On beginning this book, I feared my lack of Naval reading would be a problem. No such worries were necessary. 
Andrew's knowledge & his painstaking research have produced a magnificent book. One that I'm positive will stand the test of time for many more anniversaries to come. 

I would like to thank The History Press for sending me this review copy.

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